2012 Candidate Crossover Special: Romney Raises Money For Thune

So reports CongressDaily's Erin McPike, writing at Hotline OnCall: Mitt Romney will make one of his first high-profile fundraising stops of the 2010 midterms in South Dakota, raising money for Sen. John Thune's (R) reelection race Feb. 19. Why is this significant? Because Thune is being talked about as a possible contender for the White House in 2012 (Sen. Lindsey Graham recently listed him as a top contender from Congress's ranks, although Reps. Eric Cantor and Mike Pence could have something to say about that). Thune also has had no trouble raising money--he's already got $6 million in his campaign accounts, this far from Election Day.

But at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Sioux Falls roughly two weeks from today, two possible White House contestants will be in the same place at the same time for some glad-handing, money getting, and face time. If Thune doesn't enter or win the GOP presidential primary, he'll figure prominently in discussion of the Republican VP nomination...